The Catholic Diocese of Wa has marked the 40years since the introduction of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) into the Diocese.
The celebration brought together members of the Network of Prayer Groups, and many people to celebrate the occasion.
Most Rev. John Yaw Afoakwah, the Catholic Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Obuasi, the Bishop in charge of Vocations, Seminaries and Chaplaincies under the department of Pastoral Ministry and Evangelisation of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, was the guest speaker of the 40th Anniversary celebrations of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the Wa Diocese.
The programme which started on Thursday 27 July through to 30 July, 2023 at the St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary Wa, was under the theme: Wa Diocesan CCR: 40 Years of God’s Grace.
The celebration was postponed to this year following the untimely passing of His Eminence Richard Cardinal Kuuia Baawobr.
The Renewal was introduced to the Diocese in 1982 by the late Monsignor Ireneous Songliedong of blessed memory. Since then the Renewal has grown and has impacted the Catholic Church positively in the Diocese.
The objectives for the programme was to among other things galvanize the Prayer Group Members across the Diocese to a time of recognition and Praise for God’s Faithfulness to the Renewal in the diocese for the past 40 years.
Speaking, on the topic “Return to your first love”, Bishop Afoakwah called for recognition of how low members have fallen in terms of their love for God, the need for repentance and the need to get back to the basics. These basics he stressed were prayer, bible studies, exercise of the Charismatic gifts among othets.
In his homily during the climax, he urged Catholics and for that matter Ghanaians to be wise in all their dealings. Past leader of the Renewal were also honored.
Rev.Fr. Benjamin Fiirtir, the Diocesan Chancellor, on behalf of the Diocesan Administrator Very.Rev. Fr. (Dr) Edward Tengan paid glowing tribute to the Bishop for honoring the invitation to come and celebrate the 40th Anniversary with the Diocese.
